Olympics: Canada, Sweden seek men's hockey gold

SOCHI, Russia — Sweden and Canada are the last two Olympic champions in men's hockey, and they've both gone undefeated so far in Sochi.

The Associated Press

SOCHI, Russia — Sweden and Canada are the last two Olympic champions in men's hockey, and they've both gone undefeated so far in Sochi.

One team will leave the Bolshoy Ice Dome with Olympic perfection when the games wrap up with the gold-medal match on Sunday.

Defending champion Canada has dominated the rest of the world's best with depth, defense and championship experience. Sweden, which won it all in Turin eight years ago, is in the same position as Canada for almost exactly the same reasons.

The winner will be the first unbeaten Olympic champion since the Soviet Union won in Sarajevo in 1984. No team in the NHL era has gone through a tournament unbeaten on the way to gold, but both Canada and Sweden have avoided every obstacle so far.

As the pre-tournament favorites and the reigning champions, the Canadians seem almost grateful their medal run has pitted them against Finland, the U.S. and Sweden, the other three strongest teams of the tournament.

But Sweden cruised through its preliminary-round group and advanced to the finale with a semifinal victory over Finland, patiently wearing down every opponent with mistake-free hockey.

"The Swedish way to have success is to start slow and get better," Daniel Alfredsson said. "I think we're getting better at the right time."

Canada hasn't even trailed in a game in Sochi, while Sweden has won every contest in regulation. Sweden has outscored Canada 17-14. Canada and its first-time Olympic goalie, Carey Price, have allowed just three goals in five games, while Henrik Lundqvist has yielded just six.